Week 3 Fantasy Football Studs
Nothing gets your week started off right like some delicious Stud Muffins. Fresh out of the oven, here are the players who delivered performances worthy of the moniker in Week 3. For the full discussion check out the podcast as the guys break down the action each and every Monday.
Quarterbacks
Trevor Siemian @ CIN
–312 passing yards, 4 TDs
If you started Trevor Siemian on the road this week… you’re a liar. No, you didn’t.
Matthew Stafford @ GB
–385 passing yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 11 rushing yards
The Lions offense is really clicking this season. Especially in the absence of Abdullah this offense’s strength is through the air.
Aaron Rodgers vs. DET
–205 passing yards, 4 TDs, 22 rushing yards
A-A-Ron was hyper-efficient as always. 27% of this completions were TDs. Incredible.
Carson Wentz vs PIT
–301 passing yards, 2 TDs, 10 rushing yards
Wentz is sure making the personnel people for the Rams and Browns look really bad. This kid still has yet to throw a pick. It will be interesting to see how he handles adversity going forward.
Ryan Tannehill vs CLE
-319 passing yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
Kirk Cousins @ NYG
–296 passing yards, 2 TDs
Jameis Winston vs LA
–405 passing yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 13 rushing yards
If you’re starting any of these 3 guys, do yourself a favor, just start them and collect the points. DO NOT under any circumstances watch the games. You will not like what you see.
Wide Receivers
Marvin Jones @ GB
–6 receptions, 205 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 8 targets
Galvatron, the new leader of the Detroit Decepticons has arisen. He will crush any who stand between him and a #FootClanTitle
Emmanuel Sanders @ CIN
–9 receptions, 117 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 13 targets
Sanders is a talented WR tied to what figures to be a run heavy offense with a young QB, but if you can figure out the pattern here and can predict his big games, please @ me.
Terrelle Pryor @ MIA
–8 receptions, 144 receiving yards, 14 targets, 21 rushing yards, TD, 35 passing yards
Pryor to this week, Terrelle was basically just a human 9 route (I’m not even sorry for the bad pun). But in Week 3, Pryor put the Browns offense on his back. At one point in this game he led the team in Receiving, Rushing AND Passing.
Allen Robinson vs BAL
–7 receptions, 57 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 11 targets
The Jaguars defense hasn’t quite gotten it together yet so there will be plenty of opportunities for Robinson to succeed in this offense. He has a strong rapport with Bortles.
Jarvis Landry vs CLE
-7 receptions, 120 receiving yards, TD, 16 rushing yards
There is just no way that Landry can disappoint when he is this heavily involved in the offense. He is now on pace for 187 targets on the season. Tannehill just won’t stop, can’t stop throwing to Landry and you shouldn’t stop starting him.
Jordy Nelson vs DET
-6 receptions, 101 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 7 targets
When you saw the aforementioned stat line from Aaron Rodgers, you knew this was coming.
Mike Evans vs LA
–10 receptions, 132 receiving yards, TD, 13 targets
If Evans can continue to pull down this percentage of his targets, he could put together a monster 2016 campaign.
T.Y. Hilton vs SD
-8 receptions, 174 receiving yards, TD, 11 targets
Without Moncrief, T.Y. figured to be locked down by Jason Verrett. But the Colts moved Hilton around the formation and he eventually got the better of the Chargers secondary. This offense needed him to step up and he did.
Doug Baldwin vs SF
-8 receptions, 164 receiving yards, TD, 10 targets
It’s a wonder how Russell Wilson is still getting the ball to his WRs on two bum wheels, but Baldwin just has a knack for getting open when the play breaks down as it often does in this Seattle offense.
Running Backs
LeGarrette Blount vs HOU
–24 carries, 105 rushing yards, 2 TDs
The game flow and field positioning in the Thursday Night game was astonishing. The Patriots started two drives inside the Houston 25 yard-line, and Blount capitalized. Look for Blount to be heavily featured for at least one more week until Brady returns.
Christine Michael vs SF
–20 carries, 106 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 2 receptions, 5 receiving yards
I won’t say it… I won’t…
*I’M WIDE AWAKE!* Damn…
David Johnson @ BUF
–19 carries, 83 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 3 receptions, 28 receiving yards
Why has fantasy football turned into a bizarre iTunes playlist? *David Johnson*
LeSean McCoy vs AZ
–17 carries, 110 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 3 receptions, 6 receiving yards
Without Sammy Watkins, the Bills offense is going to need McCoy, and Taylor for that matter, to come up with big games like this.
DeMarco Murray vs OAK
–16 carries, 114 rushing yards, TD, 5 receptions, 41 receiving yards
Murray seemed to be the only member of the Titans who realized he was playing against the Oakland Raiders defense. This is Murray’s backfield. Derrick Henry will be involved but only to spell him.
Darren Sproles vs PIT
2 carries, -1 rushing yard, 6 receptions, 128 receiving yards, TD
Like Gio’s performance from last week, this one belongs in the WR section.
Jeremy Hill vs DEN
–17 carries, 97 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Jeremy Hill knows when you didn’t start him. He knows. It’s the only explanation.
Todd Gurley @ TB
–27 carries, 85 rushing yards, 2 TDs
The fantasy community, and the Gurley owner who was sitting on my couch, breathed a collective sigh of relief when lightning struck (twice) for Todd Gurley.
Carlos Hyde @ SEA
-21 carries, 103 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 2pt conv
Luckily for Hyde owners, garbage time points count.
Tight Ends
Travis Kelce vs NYJ
–6 receptions, 89 receiving yards, TD, 7 targets
No one has more fun, or looks better while celebrating than Travis Kelce. Keep dancing, Zeus,
Cameron Brate vs LA
-5 receptions, 46 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 10 targets
Following the release of ASJ, many in the fantasy football community were cautiously optimistic for Brate’s opportunity. He delivered.
Jimmy Graham vs SF
–6 receptions, 100 receiving yards, 1 TD, 9 targets
Jimmy Graham, I would like to offer my sincerest apology. Welcome back.
Kyle Rudolph @ CAR
-7 receptions, 70 receiving yards, TD, 10 targets
Kyle the Red Zone Reindeer has new life in this Minnesota offense with Sammy Biscuits playing QB. In Adrian Peterson’s absence, Rudolph should continue to get scoring opportunities.
Zach Miller @ DAL
-8 receptions, 78 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 9 targets
Leading up to SNF, I said, “I really expected Zach Miller to be better this season.” Who knew that all it would take is for his starting QB to get hurt for him to step up his game.
Defense/Special Teams
Minnesota Vikings @ CAR
10 points allowed, 3 INTs, 1 TD
Kansas City Chiefs vs NYJ
3 points allowed, 6 INTs, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 TDs
These are shaping up to be two of the premier defenses this season. Especially the Vikings, they look matchup proof.
Honorable Mentions
Shane Vereen vs WAS
11 carries, 67 rushing yards, TD, 2 receptions, 28 receiving yards
Sterling Shepard vs WAS
5 receptions, 73 receiving yards, TD, 7 targets
Jamison Crowder @ NYG
4 receptions, 78 receiving yards, TD, 4 targets
DeSean Jackson @ NYG
5 receptions 96 receiving yards, TD, 8 targets
Demaryius Thomas @ CIN
6 receptions, 100 receiving yards, TD, 7 targets
Tavon Austin @ TB
5 receptions, 82 receiving yards, TD, 22 rushing yards